Corruption In Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep

In Raymond Chandler’s, The Big Sleep, he illustrates a clear tension between detectives and cops. Marlowe, an investigator is often challenged by factors not in his case such as resistance from local police. Marlowe says on many occasions that the law was corrupt. He explains how easily a “copper” could be bribed or persuaded and justice could be easily pushed to the side. In this case, he was right! The police of the city had been involved in many cases in which the facts had been hidden or slightly altered. The setting of the story is in the 1930s the same time frame as the Great Depression in America. The times were so hard, most people would do anything to self-advance. Throughout the novel, the town’s police are criticized by Marlowe for their ways. The cops are symbols of the often unjust corruption of people. Marlowe knows that the police are corrupt and justice is more often than not pushed to the side. He explains how easily a “copper” could be bribed or persuaded and justice could be easily pushed to the side. The temptation for one to be bribed is raised unbelievably if future success if questioned. Even slight progress was something to take advantage of since nobody around town was advancing due to the state of depression. Money was basically the center of life during this time. The economy was in complete turmoil and therefore it made money more coveted and respected around the country.
Survival was the main priority and others had to fend for themselves. One character even says to Marlowe, “She's a grifter, shamus. I'm a grifter. We're all grifters. So we sell each other out for a nickel...” (Chandler 102). Everyone felt this way and that made it even harder for Marlowe to trust his surroundings. Teaming with the police was already difficult but it was practically impossible considering they had fell victim to the corrupted